Terminal-clinching tool



Allg 24, 1965 R. D. HARRISON x-:TAL 3,201,969

TERMINAL-CLINCHING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 16, 1961 AlNN.

Allg, 24, 1965 R. n. HARRISON ETAL 3,201,959

TERMINAL-CLINCHING TOOL Filed Jan. 16. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR5 PUY D. HARP/50N 5&0 Y0 ,4. SHA/QP A TTU/@V57 United States Patent O 3,201,969 TERMINAL-CLINCHlNG T001.

Roy D. Harrison, Inglewood, and Floyd A. Sharp, Downey, Calif., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Pendleton Tool Industries, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 83,046 8 Claims. (Cl. 72-402) This invention relates to a tool for clinching a tip or terminal onto the end of a vbared electrical conductor wire.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tool of the type referred to that has a single-action operation, whether by manual or power force application, so that the tip is indented on at least one of the sides to cause the indentations thus formed to clinch onto the stranded wire ordinarily used as a conductor, and rrnly aix the tip to the wire. It will be understood that solid wire conductors of malleable metal, copper, for instance, will receive a tip in substantially the same manner, and that such tips may have various purposes, as for preventing fraying of the wire end, providing a wire with a pin jack end, and tor any purpose vwhere a tip or terminal securely aiiixed to a wire end is desired.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working posit-ion and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of Vgeneral superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of con-struction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which `will more fully appear in t-he cou-rse of the following description and which is based on the yaccompanying drawings. However, said drawing-s merely show, and the following description merely describes, preferred embodiments of the present invention, which are given by way of illustration or example only.

lIn the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, with the handgr'ip thereof in side elevation, of one form of terminalclinching tool according to the present invention, the tool being shown in its normal non-operated position.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clinching end of the tool in the tip-clinching position thereof.

FIGS. 3 yand 4 are cross-sectional views as taken on the respective lines 3 3 and 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged and fragmentary sectional View showing the clinching portion of the tool in greater detail and in the position of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a similar view show-ing the clinching portion of the tool in the position of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a broken longitudinal sectional view, partly in side elevation, of a modification.

` FIG. 8 is a similar view of another modification. y, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view as taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

The terminal-clinching tool that is illustrated comprises, generally, `an elongated tubular body 10, a pistol grip 11 extending from one end of said body and provided in the usual way with an operating trigger or button 12 protected by a guard 13, terminal-clinching means 14 at the opposite end of said body 10, means 15 to move the means 14 to clinching position, and means 16 to actuate the means 15 whether by manually-applied force on the button 12 or by pressure duid (air or liquid) controlled by said Ibutton. In cases where the applied force is pneum-atic pressure, air may be brought to the tool .by means of a exible hose 17 connected to the end of the pistol grip and a normally-closed Venting valve (not shown) may be embodied in s-aid grip and controlled by button 12 to open and provide actuating power to the means 16.

3,201,969 Patented ug. 24, 1965 "ice Percussive force may also be used to actuate the means 16, the grip 111 serving as a 4holder for a squib or cartridge for this purpose.

The .body is shown as an elongated tu-be 20 with a closed end 211. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, said tube 20 may be formed of longitudinally separable sections as an aid to assembling the means and 16 therein. In the form o-f FIGS. 1 to 4, a cylinder 22 is provided in tube 20, the same receiving pressure air through a port 23 upon depression of button 412. The means 14 is shown as being assembled .from the end 24 of tube 20 that is opposite to the closed end 21, against an annular inner shoulder 25, and held in position as by means of a snap ring 26 applied from .said tube end Z4. The means 16 is shown located against an annular inner shoulder 27 at the end of cylinder 22 .and held in place by a snap ring 28.

The pistol grip may be conventionally formed in different wvays, depending on the type of power that may be used for actuating the means 16.

The terminal-clinohing means 14 shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is coaxial with the tubular housing and comprises, generally, an indenter housing 30 at the outer end of said means, a housing extension 31 inward of the indenter housing 30, said housing and extension, together, being located between the mentioned snap ring 24 and shoulder 25, a set lof clinching or indenting dies 32, and a stop 33 to limit the indenting movement of the dies 32. The above generally described clinching means 14 may have a set of four dies 32, as in FIGS. 1 to 4, or the number of dies may vary, one being the minimum. FIGS. 5 and 6 suggest `an uneven number of dies, three, for instance.

As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the means 14 operates on the side tubular Wall of a tip or terminal T so as to indent the same, as -at I and, thereby, clinch lthe wire W entered into the tip. Such tips may be formed with a shoulder 34 or not, as desired, the same or the end 3S of the tip serving to locate the tip in the means 14.

The indenter housing 3i) is provided with a central bore 36 through which the tip T may be introduced, a transverse guide bore 437 for each die 32 and intersecting said bore 36, and a radial opening 38 extending outwardly from each guide bore 37.

The housing extension 31 may be connected to the housing 3i? as by bolts and dowel pins 39 (FIG. 3), said extension having a central bore 40 coaxial with the bore 36, and a .set of radial openings 41a in register with the openings 38 of the housing 30.

Each indenting die 32 is formed with a shank 41 slidably engaged in a transverse bore 37 and with an end 42 slidably movable ina radial opening 38 and of a shape to be non-rotaticnally held thereby. As ya consequence, the indenting die ends 43 on the inner ends of Shanks 41 are, at all times, oriented to impress a longitudinal indent I in the side of a tip T in the bore 36. Said dies 32 are biased outwardly by coil springs 44 that act against the inner faces of the ends 42 of the dies.

The stop 33 is shown as located between the housing 30 and the extension 31 but may be otherwise located, provided that the same has stopping engagement with the dies 32 when moved from the position of FIGS. l and 5 to the position of FIGS. 2 and 6. In this case, the stop is formed with a peripheral rim 45 that limits the inward movement of the dies by engagement of the ends 42 with said rim.

The stop 33 may be changed, as well as the dies 32, depending on the size of the tip T and the depth of indent desired. Also, the stop shoulder 46 in said stop 33 may be provided according to the outer shape, size and length of the tip T to be indented.

The means 15 to exert denting pressure on the dies Vscope Vof the invention.

agaiustthe bias of thesprings 44VA is shown asia lsetof' .y levers 47, one for each die', a pivot 48 1n the hou-sing,

extension 31 for each lever,v a `set of toggle links 49, one connected to the inner end offeach lever' 47, and'ablock Sticarrying said links andmovableinl a direction toward the means 14 to cause the levers 47 to 4rock 1n a dlrection so theirV operativeends 51v will `depress the dies 32 to cause indenting of the tip T. i y .i

As can b e seen from-FIG. l, wherethe block' 5011s retracted, the lever 47 and links 49V,- with respect tol the pivots l48 of the levers and the pivots 52 of the links, are` slightly oit a dead-centerdispositionaand; the lever' ends 51 are spread apart with the dies 32Vcorrespondingly retracted. But little power is needed,` toV project the 'block l 50 fromthis-retracted position, since the only resistance to projection of thedies is the -bias ofsprings 44; It will beA noted ,that as the jblock` 50 is projected",` Ythe anglesVr between the levers 47 andthe respective/links 49`re'duce;

Since the angular movementof the links around theirrrr 20- pivots' 52 is substantially greater than the angular move-V `mentof the longer' levers 47 around their pivots '43, "a

power advantageris, obtained that causes the'lever ends 51 to operate with greater force thanV isnec'essar'yv for projecting "the 'block50, This force is further increased the mostvpowerful' part andrthat the: dies 32 will indent'Y a tip T in the manner shown in FIG. 6.; A The means,V L6, for projecting VVblockY 50 and, thereby,

actuating themeans 15,' is shown asa piston 53jrinA the` n cylinder 22, a 4stern `54 on the vendY ofA said piston and carrying block 50'on itsend, 'a guide'housing l55 for sai'dfste'm and Vcarried between-shoulder 27 and snap ring ZS, a return spring 56 to r'estore'the tool'to -non-operated position after an indenting (operation. ASaid: spring is shown as housed in guide housing 55' and actingfagainst the piston '53.'

The toggle Ylinkage above,` described is `exemplary of.V

power means to Aoperate the tool; lAs shown the modication of FIG.V 7, suchfmeans Vmay comprisea wedge ,cam |50 on the 4end ofstemv54,'the same engaging rollers 61 on the levers '47d torro'ckithe latter on pivots 48` and Y perform tip indenting, as before'j Said levers 47a 1nay be retractedfby'springs 62 upon retraction of'fthevcam'ii,

which is here' shown as havinga-twostage-taper whereby the power on levers 47'a`is increased nearI thefend of the indenting movement thereof.'

i rhevmodincation shown in Pross and" sham-he in; 50

denter Yhousing 36a formed' Yto Yhave aV plurality s of guides Veditora set of dies 32a. rifhe latterrare proyidedlwitli 1 v Y recesses 66 'into -which tit the operating ends 51a of-Vthe ,The latter, 'as before, are vcarried on pivots Y Y levers 47a'./ 48' in a housing extension 31a andin this case', the latter.

carries aftip guide 67V comparabletothe central,portionV of the stop, 33 The stop forthe .lettered-7a, in this ,modif ed form, is provided bythe faces, 68Ithat define theV bottom of thel posed.

openings 41fin which the leversare dis- 'i Y" Y" f 60;* Except for variations! and' changes fin Athe VVmanner rofl mountingr the indenter means, themodication of FIGS; i

r81and9 may be based Yonthe form of'FIGpl or 7`.,V It- Y will-be noted that all springszare omitted from this latter form of the invention. y,

v While the foregoing hasA illustrated and describedfwhat is now contemplated to be fthe' best mode of carrying Vout the invention,- the z constructions are,` of course, sub"- jectto 'modicationwithout ,departing fromY the Yspirit and restrict the invention to thel particular formsof construction illustrated and Vdescribed,butlto 'cover all modifica-A tions that may fall within the scope ofthe appended claims. I Y n 'Y Therefore, isV not dersirdktof Vand desired to be secured oy-Letters Patent is:y y

l; An indenting tool, comprising:V abody, Y f i indenter means removably mounted on said body and having a bore to'receive a workpiece to Vbe indented and a guideway extending transversely of and opening at oneiendl to; said bore, v y o an indenting die slidable in said guideway between an extended position wherein one end of said die projects into saidV bore for indenting' a workpiece therein and a rretracted position wherein said one end of said dieis retractedA from Vsaid bore,y said ,diel having a transverse thrust face, means for' moving said die ybetween said positions including aleverpivotally mounted onsaid body and having one end releasably engaging saidtllrust face, whereby rocking motion ofV saidlever isreffective to move said die between said;` extended and"retra`cted Y positions, power means on said body operatively connected to Y said lever for rockingl the latter,v f

said indenter means and die being removable'as a unit .from said body, and I Y o I means `releas'ably. securing said indenter means to said b'ody.. 4, Y 2. ,Anz indenting tool, comprising z abody,l v

indenter meansv on said body havinga bore to receive a workpiece to be indentedand a guideway extending "transverselyofrand'opening at one end-.to said bore,

1andndentin'g dietslidablerin said guideway between an extended position wherein. one end of Asaid die Yprojects 'int-o' said guideway for indenting a workpiece Y .therein Yandfa retracted position wherein said one Y y endrof said'die is retracted from said bore, 'i'n'ea'nsl for moving said die between said positions including ak lever pivotally mounted'intermediate its Q rendsron said body'andaoperatively connected at one Vend lto said die,whereby rocking motion ofsaid lever in one direction is eiective to extend/said die into said bore, 1 o Y! Y a dual angle cam mountedon said body for movement A ialong a direction line extending generally longitudinally of said lever and including aca-mr surfaceenygaging the Jotherre'ndY-.of said jlever for rocking the ylatter.` in said one directionvupon' movement ofxthe cam ina given'directionalong said directionline, f said cam fs'urface including'a first surface portion linclined at a'irstacute :angle relative to saiddirection Y @line an'd'engageable withfsaid lever during, initial 'Y surfacegportioninclined atyasecond` acute angle f Vrelativertofsaid,directionline andengageable with f'g'iven direction, andV Y t `said first .angle being greaterothan sraid second angle.

3. An indenting tool, comprising 'wardend, Y s Y v o,

Yanindentfer housing: removably positioned in `said forv YV wardend of sail'body,v n Y t y y t said housinghaving aboreppening through` ,saidfor- Y, be indented and. a iguidewayextendng transversely Vof said bore inj` a,V plane parallel lto the axis of the borre,l the vinner endet said guideway opening into :an indentingw-die slidable in'said guideway .betweenan extendedzposition wherein-one endof said die proo jeetsintgo saidV bore forY inden-tinga workpiece therein andaretgractedposition wherein saidone end of. said die is retracted from said bore, 4' means for moving said-diev between said vextended and travel of said'cam in said given directi'on'and'asecond `Vsaid lever during Ainal'otrafvel Y of said cam in l said' a generally tubular body having an'bpening in its forward end or" said bodyjjfor receiving. a' workpiece toA "'saidbore ,and theouter end of saidY guidewayopen'ing- 1 rearwardly 'throughf the'rera'r surface of said housing,

retracted positions including a'lever pivotally mounted within said body to the rear of said housing for rocking motion in said plane and having a forward end projecting into the outer end of said guideway and disposed in releasable operative engagement with said die, whereby said die is moved between said extended and retracted positions in response to rocking motion of said lever,

power means on said body operatively connected to said lever for rocking the latter,

said indenter housing and said die being removable as .a unit from said body, andmeans releasably securing said housing in said body.

4. An indenting tool, comprising:

a generally tubular body having an opening in its forward end,

an indenter housing removably positioned within said forward end of said body,

a housing extension positioned within said forward end of said body to the rear of said indenter housing,

said housing extension having a bore opening through the forward surface thereof,

said indenter housing having a bore aligned with and opening at its rear end to said bore in said housing extension and vat its forward end to the exterior of said body through said body opening,

a workpiece guide removably positioned in the forward end of said bore in said housing extension, whereby said guide is removable 4from said housing extension 4when said indenter housing is removed from said body,

said guide having a central opening for receiving the end of a workpiece inserted through said bore in said indenter housing and an annular, forwardly presen-ted shoulder surrounding said central guide opening for axially locating the workpiece in the bore in said indenter housing,

said indenter housing having a guideway in a plane parallel to the axis of said bores, the inner end of said guideway opening into said bore in said indenter housing and the outer end of said guideway opening rearwardly through the rear surface of said indenter housing,

an indenting die slidable in said guideway between an extended position wherein one end of said die projects into said -indenter housing bore for indenting a workpiece therein and a retracted position wherein said one end of said die is retracted from the latter bore,

means for moving said die between said extended and retracted positions including a lever pivot-ally mounted on said housing extension for rocking motion in said plane and having a forward end projecting into the outer end of said guideway and disposed in releasable operative engagement with said die, whereby said die is moved between said extended and retracted positions in response to rocking motion of said lever,

power means on said body operatively connected to said lever for rocking the latter,

said indenter housing and die being removable as a unit from said body, and

means releasably securing said indenter housing in said body.

5. A tool according to claim 4 wherein:

said workpiece guide has a forward, laterally projecting shoulder overlying the rear open side of said guideway, and said die includes a rearwardly projecting shoulder engageable with said guide shoulder to limit inward movement of said die in said guideway.

6. A t-ool according to claim 4 including:

coacting stop means on said lever ,and housing extension for limiting inward movement of said die in said guideway under the action of said lever.

7. An indenting tool, comprising: Y v

a generally tubular body having .an opening in its forward end, i

an 4indenter housing removably positioned in said forward end of said body,

said housing having a bore opening through said forward end of said body for receiving a workpiece to be indented and a guideway extending transversely of said bore in a plane parallel to the axis of the bo-re,

the inner end Iof said guideway opening into said bore .and the outer end of said guidewayk opening rearwardly through the rear surface of said housing,

an indenting die slidable in said guideway between an extended position wherein one end of said die projects int-o said bore for indenting a workpiece therein and a retracted position wherein said one end of said die is retracted from said bore,

means for moving said die between said extended and retracted positions including a lever pivotally mounted within said body to the rear of said housing for rocking motion in said plane and having a forward end projecting into the outer end of said guideway and -disposed in releasable, operative engagement with said die, whereby said die is moved between said extended and retracted positions in response to rocking motion of said lever,

power means operatively connected to said lever for rocking the latter,

said indenter housing and said die being removable as a unit through said forward opening in said body, and

means releasably securing said housing in said body.

8. An indenting t-o-ol, comprising:

a generally tubular body having an opening in its forward end,

an indenter housing removably positioned within said forward end of said body,

a housing extension positioned Within said forward end of said body to the rear of said indenter housing, said housing extension having a bore opening through the forward surface thereof,

said indenter housing having a bore `aligned with and opening at its rear end to said bore in said housing extension and at its forward end to the exterior of said body through said body opening,

a workpiece guide removably positioned in the forward end of said bore in said housing extension and retained in the latter bore by said indenter housing, whereby said guide is removable from said housing extension when said indenter housing is removed from said body,

said guide having a central opening for receiving the end of a workpiece inserted through said bore in said indenter housing and an annular, forwardly presented shoulder surrounding said central guide opening for axially locating the workpiece in the bore in said indenter housing,

said indenter housing having -a guideway in a plane parallel to the `axis of said bores, the inner end of said guideway opening into said bore -in said indenter housing and the outer end of said guideway opening rearwardly through the rear surface of said indenter housing,

an indenting die slidable in said guideway between an extended Position wherein one end of said die projects into said indenter housing bore for indenting a workpiece therein and .a retracted position wherein said one end of said die is retracted from the latter bore,

rneans for moving said die between said extended and retracted positions including a lever pivotally mounted on said housing extension for rocking motion in said plane and having a forward end projecting into the outer end of said guideway and disposed in releasable, -operative engagement with said die, whereby said die lis moved between saidV extendedk and 1etractedpositions'-in response' torocking motrion'of said lever,

' power means on 'vsaidbody operativety connected to sid lever for rocking the latter, i

saidinde'nt'er housing andwdie being removable as aY unit through'said forward'body opening, and

means r'eleasably securing said indenter housing in saidV body. Y

References Cited theEx 'amner Y UNITED STATES PATENTSl 2,369,180

8?,- v2,605,467l `8/52 Linde-1 a1, 3 7 1-187 2,767,401; 10/ 56 Habersmmpr r 1-187 2,887,916v 5/59- Freedom' 81-15 A2,985,047 K5/61n van o.ort v r s1+15 .5 2,991,675 7/6-1-v Ustin 81-15 3,026,520 3/62 Anrecht Y f 1-187 3,086,574 -4/631Us1i7n 2 153-1 ,A f FOREIGN PATENTS 10 v722,278 1/55; GrentBritain.

CHARLES vv.y LANHAM, 217mm Examiner,

'v MoRRIs M. FRITZ, WALTERFAy SCHEEL, MCHAEL 

1. AN INDENTING TOOL, COMPRISING: A BODY, INDENTER MEANS REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BODY AND HAVING A BORE TO RECEIVE A WORKPIECE TO BE INDENTED AND A GUIDEWAY EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF AND OPENING AT ONE END TO SAID BORE, AN INDENTING DIE SLIDABLE IN SAID GUIDEWAY BETWEEN AN EXTENDED POSITION WHEREIN ONE END OF SAID DIE PROJECTS INTO SAID BORE FOR INDENTING A WORKPIECE THEREIN AND A RETRACTED POSITION WHEREIN SAID ONE END OF SAID DIE IS RETRACTED FROM SAID BORE, SAID DIE HAVING A TRANSVERSE THRUST FACE, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID DIE BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS INCLUDING A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BODY AND HAVING ONE END RELEASABLY ENGAGING SAID THRUST FACE, WHEREBY ROCKING MOTION OF SAID LEVER IS EFFECTIVE TO MOVE SAID DIE BETWEEN SAID EXTENDED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS, POWER MEANS ON SAID BODY OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID LEVER FOR ROCKING THE LATTER, SAID INDENTER MEANS AND DIE REMOVABLE AS A UNIT FROM SAID BODY, AND MEANS RELEASABLY SECURING SAID INDENTER MEANS TO SAID BODY. 